Tuna Meltdown
Pura Vida Miami, a well-known wellness and lifestyle brand that’s gained a big following in New York City, is quietly removing its popular tuna sprout sandwich from menus at all locations, including those in New York and Florida.
After news broke last December revealing that the sandwich contained a staggering 145 grams of fat and almost 3,000 milligrams of sodium, Pura Vida decided to cut ties with the item. This was enough to send its fans into a bit of a frenzy.
Pura Vida fan Rasheen Levy expressed her disappointment, saying, “The bad fat has been chased away.” Once she discovered the sandwich’s shocking nutritional content, she vowed not to order her former favorite again. “All my friends were stunned when they found out how serious it was. It really was a tuna meltdown for us.”
Someone joked, “You shouldn’t treat yourself to tuna on your ‘cheat day.'” Nutritionists have confirmed that removing such a questionable option could actually be better for health.
As Functional Nutritionist Daniel Pashko put it, “There was a significant gap between what people thought was ‘healthy’ and the actual nutrition facts.” He mentioned that if the brand is re-evaluating its ingredients, that’s a step in the right direction. “I hope for more transparency moving forward,” he adds, reflecting a desire that many consumers might share.
Karlie Spears, a food influencer and frequent Pura Vida customer, noted that it was wise for the restaurant to discontinue the sandwich after the backlash, despite it being her favorite. “Honestly, I ordered it 90% of the time,” she admitted. However, she found the substitute—a $19 tuna and avocado sandwich introduced in February—to be a letdown, describing it as “lackluster” and “dry.” At least it contains less sodium and fat than its predecessor, but it just doesn’t compare.
One employee at the Miami location commented, “We don’t know why it was taken off the menu; it was super popular. We loved it.”
A spokesperson for Pura Vida described the sandwich’s removal as part of a “menu evolution” based on various factors including ingredient availability and overall product development. It seems this is merely a standard procedure for them.
According to the company, they’re committed to “transparency and accuracy,” and they follow FDA guidelines that require chains with 20 or more locations to disclose nutritional information. They mentioned that a thorough third-party review of their nutritional data was completed, and updated information is now available on their website.
